A surprisingly weak retail sales report has driven stocks lower, giving the Dow Jones industrial average its second straight day of losses.

The Commerce Department said retail sales rose just 0.3% in January, the smallest increase since June and half of what economists had predicted.

Kim Caughey Forrest, equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group, said higher prices for petrol and raw materials are beginning to be passed along to consumers, which is hitting retail sales and spending.